Chapter 35 Esmeralda
Esmeralda
Sitting cross-legged on the floor in her wagon, Esmeralda flipped open the tin box she had taken from Ignacio and pulled out one of the rolled-up papers. Her cheeks warmed as she read the tiny note.
Dovie. What’s one thing you don’t like about me?
Esmeralda had always loved that he wrote her nickname with a period at the end of it. As if that one word was big and important enough to be an entire sentence. As if it encapsulated everything that she was and everything that he thought of her within five little letters.
She remembered thinking long and hard about the answer to this question.
Your ugly feet.
Truth was, there wasn’t anything she didn’t like about him back then.
Because she understood him. Ignacio could be uptight and sometimes standoffish, he could be a bit huffy when plans changed or things weren’t in order, because that was how he was raised.
That was who he had been taught to be. But in the very depths of his soul existed the kindest human alive.
He was a walking cavity-maker—he was so sweet.
She chewed on her bottom lip and sighed heavily. She still didn’t not like anything about Ignacio Olivera. He was still very much that boy. But he was more now. He wasn’t the sheltered son of the comandante. He’d been out into the world. He’d seen all sorts of things.
And yet he still loved her.
Three quick knocks sounded on the door. She stuffed the tin box into the bodice of her costume before the door squeaked open. Gabriel’s head popped in. Inky oil marked one cheek. He wore his signature cap but sweat coated the curls on his neck.
“Hey,” she said gently. They hadn’t spoken since the Sánchezes’ accident.
“Hey yourself.” Gabriel’s gaze roamed her small space. He slumped. “I was hoping Camila was in here. I’ve been searching for her for an hour.”
“She isn’t.”
“Yes,” he said. “I can see that.” He narrowed his eyes. “New costume?”
When she woke up that morning, she’d found a wrapped box on her doorstep with the most beautiful costume she’d ever seen inside it.
It was an opal-white one-piece with feather tufts on the rear and shoulders.
Shimmering diamonds had been sewn into the lacy gauze at the hips.
But it was the massive wings that had her awestruck.
They were angelic, and intricate, and so large they flowed down her back and swept the ground near her heels.
The notecard had given her instructions to put it on or risk being disqualified from the Running. With everything going on, the challenge for lead act was the last thing on her mind. But she did as she was told because what else could she do?
She fidgeted with one of the feathers and decided to do what Camila suggested—wade through her discomfort and be a real friend. “I know you’re angry that I continued in the Running after the accident. You have every right to hate me for being so selfish.”
Gabriel snorted. “Hate is a strong word, amiga. Disappointed? Sure. But Camila told me you two hashed things out last night.”
“And she told me you were going to leave with them.”
He nodded.
“But what about the rules? We aren’t supposed to depart before our year term. There are consequences.”
“What can the ringmaster possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done? Will he take all the money I’ve saved like he did to you? Fine. Let him.” He swiped at the oil on his cheek. “Rosco and I have been building a motorized chair for Pilar.”
“Rosco the monkey? The pickpocket?”
Gabriel grinned. “He’s great, right? I paid him in sweets to steal some of the machine parts I needed. We just finished, actually. We can leave right away.”
“So soon.” Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel suddenly cold. She and Ignacio couldn’t possibly leave now. They hadn’t found anything that would truly incriminate the comandante yet.
Gabriel swept forward and knelt beside her, taking her hand in his.
He had the biggest brown eyes, the kind that seemed to always be full of mischief.
Sometimes she forgot how young he was. How young they both were.
But the two of them had learned how to scrape by in a world that was not kind.
And that aged a person. It did things to their bodies only people like them could understand.
“I sent a telegraph to Javi like you asked. I told him to see if anyone he knows might have something interesting to tell us about the carnival.”
“Did he find anything?” she asked.
“One of the snuff dealers for the king’s court made it sound like the rich are all in on the game.
And I mean the rich. Lawmakers, corporation owners, the gentry, hell, probably King Amadeo himself.
They are perfectly aware that people go missing all the time within the carnival.
Did you know that no one from the outside world has seen any of the acts that competed in the Running again?
And the previous lead acts? Nothing. How could someone whose face is plastered on billboards across Costa Mayor just vanish? They say they retire but to where?”
“Why hasn’t anyone tried to stop this?” she asked.
“Because we’re nobodies.”
Anger bubbled inside her. Gabriel wasn’t a nobody.
He was clever and handy and a good friend.
The Sánchezes weren’t nobodies. They were funny and kind and did everything for their family.
Every performer and hand she’d met within the carnival was a somebody.
No matter their station in life. She was so sick and tired of those with power looking down on anyone who wasn’t deemed worthy in their eyes.
“Whatever is going on, we are getting out of this place before anything worse happens,” Gabriel said. “As soon as I find Camila, we are—”
“Did you say you were looking for Camila?”
Esmeralda’s spine stiffened. It was the ringmaster’s voice. She and Gabriel both whirled toward the door.
Gabriel jumped to his feet. He took off his cap and bowed his head. “Yes, Senor Veracruz.”
“I just saw her walking into the Fun House. I’m sure you can catch her there.”
“Um…thank you, senor.”
The ringmaster scooted to the side of the doorway so Gabriel could depart. But Gabriel didn’t move. He peeked over his shoulder at Esmeralda, unsure if he should leave her alone.
“Is something the matter?” ángel queried.
“Not at all,” Esmeralda chimed in. She stood up. “Gabriel and I were talking about what I’m planning to do for the final challenge. He’s simply nervous.”
“I see. Well, that will have to wait. It is time to start the parade into town.” His eyes flicked to Gabriel. “Are you coming, kid? Or did you need to find Camila first?”
“Go on,” Esmeralda urged. They didn’t want to raise any suspicions. “We’ll meet up after.”
Gabriel nodded before disappearing into the hubbub of the carnival.
The ringmaster offered his arm. “Shall we?”
Esmeralda blinked. “Did you come to my wagon to escort me to my float?”
A laugh bubbled from his lips. “Not entirely.”
He gestured toward his elbow. Begrudgingly, she took it.
Perhaps it was cowardly, but what else could she do?
If ángel was consorting with the elites, or whatever was in that mirror, or worse, Comandante Olivera, she had to play her cards right.
She had to make sure he remained on her side.
At least until she could figure out what to do next.
“Your costume fits you well,” ángel said as they walked toward the parade. “Jorge is a tailor virtuoso indeed.”
“Yes. Thank you for this.”
“But where are your gloves?” he asked.
She’d stuffed them into her cabinet with zero intention of ever wearing them again. “I left them with the washing crew. They got a bit smudged after the show last night.”
“Ah, wouldn’t want you to perform with any stains tarnishing your beauty. Speaking of beauty.” He dug into his coat pocket. His brows furrowed. “Hmm. It isn’t in here.” He snapped. “Sí! That’s right.” He twirled his fingers in the air and a gilded hairpin winked into existence.
Her gilded hairpin.
He wiggled the golden piece, bits of sunlight glinting in her eye. “Looking for this by any chance?”
She’d lost it last night when she and Ignacio kissed before they entered the ringmaster’s wagon. She’d felt it tumble out of her hair and land on the grass but paid it no mind. How could she when his lips were on hers?
Her pulse began to pound. Did ángel know about what she and Ignacio had done? She plastered on a nonchalant smile and plucked the pin from his fingertips. “That damn monkey keeps snagging my things.”
The ringmaster grinned and the lines fanning out at the corners of his eyes deepened. “What a naughty little pest.”
He helped her into Estefan the ostrich’s birdcage. It had been repainted, and strings of pearls and diamonds now curtained the upper rim. ángel patted her arm and started to shut the door.
“Silly me, I nearly forgot. My mind is so filled with distractions.” A black envelope winked into existence.
His fingers shook ever so slightly as he handed it to her.
“With Paco tragically gone and Benicio sadly disqualified after one of his bears attacked the Flying Córdovas, I’ve been rather distraught.
I have a good feeling about tonight, though.
The show is going to be one we won’t soon forget.
But first, we shall entertain the masses with our magnificent pageant. ”
He shut the door and swept away, joining the bandwagon at the front of the parade.
Esmeralda looked down at the envelope.
There was that same blasted iridescent ink.
Rage boiled inside her. She itched to tear the thing into shreds.
Yet, she tore it open instead.
My magnificent Paloma, congratulations, you are now just one of three.
You showed versatility, vivacity, and now it’s time to share your vibrancy.
Tonight is your final test.
Prove you shine brighter than the rest.
I am searching for my equal. My perfect match.
So now is the time for your clever plans to be hatched.
I need someone brilliant and talented and willing to sparkle against all the odds.
I will only choose the showstopper who is worthy of the gods.
*The final three performers will have five minutes to present their acts in the center ring. Make this a night my special guests will never forget, and you will be my next lead act.
“To hell with that,” she said.
She never wanted to experience what she went through in that Big Top again. And she surely wasn’t going to be used as some pawn for the rich to toy with. She’d had enough of that in her life, and it had gotten her nothing but heartache.
But she also knew Ignacio wouldn’t leave until he found something significant to send to the Defiant.
The parade began to move. The swing inside the cage bumped against her back, beckoning her to sit. She chewed on her cheek and searched for the boy she loved through the cage’s bars. He should be here. She tried to push down the unease stirring inside her stomach.
Hopefully, he was out there getting the answers they needed so they could flee before the show began tonight.